live on the free c-span radio app. >> now connecticut governor and "state of the state" address talks about state response to the coronavirus pandemic and thank the people of connecticut first responders and teacher he is also discussing health care, voting safely during the pandemic, racism, and the state budget and fiscal health. >> last year "state of the state" address seems like a long, long time ago. mr. speaker, mr. president, senator kelly representative, my fellow state officials, members of the general assembly, and the judicial branch, lieutenant governor honored guests, and people of the great state of connecticut, two years ago as your newat governor you welcomed me into the room where it happened. this year that room has become a virtual room.

i want to pex press my most sincere gratitude to nurses, doctors,s, caregiver, national guard, teachers, and many other essential workers who are on the frontlines of our fight against covid. you have all stepped up and ways we and you never would have imagined necessary or possible. now on behalf of a very grateful state, thank you, thank you, thank you. and i would like to take just a moment of silence for the members of our connecticut family who we have lost this past year. two years ago i introduced my family to you adding that annie and i consider connecticut like extension of our own family and after ten months of covid, that truer today than it ever was before. every day we were reminded that we are all in this together and like any large family, we must look out and care for one

another. good-bye 2020 and good riddance a year that has been the most challenging and humbling in my life one year ago today we have never heard of covid and pandemic seemed a thing of the past. onee year later, we have lost over 6,000 members of our connecticut family to this deadly virus. schools in universities are trying their hard fest to stay hope businesses are fighting for their very survival through working families struggling to stay afloat. but thanks to all of you, and our amazing scientific community which is developed a safe and effective vaccine less than one year that's a hopeful light on the horizon. our state and our nation are on the mend web and connecticut's comeback is happening. two years ago i promised an open-door and bigger table than in in democrat, republican and labor and business after ten months of covid that bigger table also

includes a reopening committee which featured best health care minds not just in connecticut but in the country. to guide us through this crisis led by science and honesty. some of those very members are now advising the president elect. and public health commissioner deirdre and trinity health care formed vaccine advisory group with scientific and community lead percent given us confidence that it is safe and effective to take the vaccine. and keeping with the hamilton theme from two years ago when i spoke ab young alexander hamilton arriving in america land offr opportunity, not wants to waste his shot, well today's day and age we're all thinking about the vaccine -- which only makes a difference if nobody waste their shot. two years ago i stressed importance of resetting the relationship for their neighboring and regional states for too long those relationships have been neglected. and as our neighboring governors

understood, that this virus doesn't respect state borders. when the federal government failed to come up with a national strategy i worked with gina and charlie in rhode island and massachusetts and neighboring new york. covid is not the only challenge that doesn't respect borders. i'm going to helicopter to build upon those relationships to implement more effective and less expensive solutions such as faster transportation option which is incentivize move to all electric vehicles. a zero-carbon electric grid, and stronger protections against cyberattack. i am working with our neighboring states look forward to working with our tribal partners on a path forward to modernize gaming in our state and working two a legislature on legalization of marijuana. sports betting internet gaming legalize marijuana they're allll happening all around us. let's not surrender these opportunities to out of state markets. or even worse, to underground

markets. racism is another virus which knows no borders. following the tragic deaths of george floyd breonna taylor, our nation and our state found itself at a historical moment of reckoning forced to finally confront hard truth of racial inequality and injustice. protest are only meaningful physical they were call tohs action. unlike the violence with large protest in other states our protest highlighted best in connecticut values. with black and white suburb and cities, police and protesters locking arms and a common cause. two years ago, we emphasize broader access to affordable health care as a basic human right. after covid, we have renewed understanding that affordable quality health care is not only essential to us as individuals but important for well being of all of our communities. if you cannot get tested, if you cannot quarantine safely, you don't have ready access to the vaccine, that's not only

dangerous for you that's dangerous for all of us. go years ago when we massed paid family and medical leave we understand how important it was that if illness struck, you didn't have to choose between a family you love and a job you need. when covid struck, even the federal government rushed to implement their own version of paid medical leave for their two million employees. no more workers feeling they have to show up to work feeling sick or infectious fearing for their livelihood. two years ago a 15 dollar minimum wage meant a minimum wage worker provide for his or her family. after covid we better understand that that minimum wage worker is an essential worker. one of the many heros who never stop providing for our children at day care. ensuring there's enough food on shelves of our grocery stores or taking care of our elderly. these heros cannot simply tell commute their social work too

essential. lastr spring some of these essential workers began working with commissioner beth buy to identify the child care centers located next our hospitals. and within weeks, 26 child care centers were open and providing free child care to those frontline workers who were taking care of us. and to those small businesses struggling to keep their doors open, who employees are some of the many working families trying to make ends meet during this covid recession, we were continuing to provide grants to keep you afloat until federal aid arrives. especially for the hospitality and restaurant sectors. which have been hit the hardest. similarly to our share work program we have streamline unemployment benefit program so employers safe jobs and retain that are workers until the economy is fully back. two years ago, i vowed to work tirelessly too ensure that all our kids have the greatest opportunities to thrive. to succeed, and create a life of

their own right here in connecticut. with many students having to learn? home covid revealed that too many students are left on wrongside of the digital divide thatst exacerbates achievement gap. internet access, broad banding these are tools essential to students' success during covid and for the foresee able future.ol so when the pandemic struck, we work together public private, not for profit to solve the digital divide. >> doctor has brought his heart, knowledge, and his passion for education to bear and behalf of the students across connecticut. and when that pandemic struck, he was ready to help secure more than 140,000 laptops, more than 40,000 internet connections for students who lacked them. because of him, connecticut became the first state in the nation ensure that every single public school student was equipped to engage remote

learning regardless of family income. >> ofng the president-elect is referring to our very own education commissioner miguel who will be the nation's next secretary of education. we want to be the first state to broaden teaching of history in social studies to make sure our black hispanic children along with white peersrs have a better appreciation of their history and civilization including date of american history which are so much about who they are, and who we are. this year we will continue to emphasize our best in the nation public schools and work force development making sure that every child regardless of zip code race, color, or creed hats the best opportunity at the starting line of life. and after ten months of covid the entire state should rise to its feed and applaud dedication of our teachers. with schools closed around the country we kept more of our

safely open. because we prioritize our children and their futures. because they are our future. voting all about children that's why elections matter. secretary of state denise gets a shoutout for making it easier for uss to vote safely with integrity during this pandemic. voters appreciated the absentee ballots in early voting, we should make this permanent. two years ago, we emphasized how important an on time honestly balance budget is to families. mayors, first elect persons, small business, so they can accurately plan for their future. thanks to your support we passed an honest balance budget that included a down payment of paying off our long-standing pension liabilities and created largest "rainy day fund" in our state's history. in these turbulent economic

times, we were well positioned to fund our critical services without draconian cuts or broad tax increases. twoo years ago "the wall street journal" asked what's wrong with connecticut? now, commentators across the country are applauding budgetary approach. and as recognition of this hard work outside analysts have repeatedly reported the connecticut is getting its fiscal house in order and treasury shawn appreciates that we can now borrow at the lowest interest rates in our history. helping us to rebuild our economy at less cost to our taxpayers. covid brings us back to health care. the fastest growing piece of our state budget and your family budget. thisge year we implemented cost and quality bench marks for health care procedures and services, similar to the bench marks that have saved massachusetts, families, and taxpayers billions ofs dollars. control kevin continues to

prioritize centers of excellence where where are family can count on higher quality health care at less cost. this is true for small businesses, and state employees alike. attorney general william is pushing to hold down generic drug prices this year connecticut expanded health care access at less cost for the first time in years. two years ago, i said i do ngt our state to fund by a chronic fiscal crisis, which have been our norm and was sapping our confidence. and today i don't our state to be defined by covid crisis instead i want this to be the year we change the narrative connecticut, let this be the year of the connecticut comeback. there are many reasons young families and new businesses are giving us a second look choosing connecticut, perhaps it is the quality of our education or a more stable fiscal outlook -- maybe it is our mayors who creatively brought our cityings

and town centers to life, and including some of the best and safest outdoor dining experiences in the country. covid may not be our last pandemic. and our new neighbors arriving movessen have as prefer quarantining in a small backyard rather than a small apartment or tell commuting rather than taking a crowded subway. whatever the reason, as people seek to improve the quality of their lives, they are choosing connecticut. tens of thousands of young families have moved to state for the first time in a generation because they recognize and appreciate our connecticut values. connecticut was ranked one of the best states in the country to raise a family for women. for working mothers, and for public safety. within those rankings connecticut ranges higher for education, child care, women health covid has pushed too many women out of the work force but not for long. lieutenant governor suzanne, leads a counsel on women and

girls to make sure that question stay the motion family friendly state in the country and a leader for pay equity. in this coming year, we will be expanding our commitment to housing transit development hope choice school incentive as well as expansion of our work force development, and small business growth fund.we that is how we get connecticut growing again. and working for all of our families with liberty andne justice for all. the connecticut i know is a state which has and won't let itself be defined by this crisis. instead it is ano state which responded to a generational calling with dozens of volunteers providing food, support and encouragement to the hundreds of cars filled with hungry families at the field food distribution center. nurses coming out of retirement to help a covid clinic. college students stepping up to serve as a teachers business leaders leveraging their

contacts to provide state with mask and gowns, and countless other examples of connecticut meeting its generational challenge. these are connecticut values. the next year will continue to be a changing time for our state and our nation. but i have never been more optimistic about our future. toav our sheer value and comemet to one another we will rise above this crisis and build a better tomorrow. ... of the first day connecticut's comeback story. god bless you all. and may god continue to bless the great state of connecti she is speaking at an event hosted by the national press club. this is live coverage on c-span2.

>> we are waiting for the start of a discussion on the coronavirus pandemic with american medical association president susan bailey paid this is live coverage on c-span2. [silence]

[silence] >> we are waiting for the start of a discussion on the coronavirus pandemic with american medical association president susan bailey. this is live coverage on c-span2.

[silence]

>> we are waiting for the start of a discussion on the coronavirus pandemic with american medical association president susan bailey. this is live coverage on c-span2. [silence]

[silence] >> president trump spoke to reporters before leaving the white house heading to alamo, texas to talk about the border

wall. [cheering and applause] [cheering and applause] >> so, we are going to texas and to the southern border. as you know, we completed the wall and they may want to expand it but we have the expansion underway and it has been tremendously successful, far beyond what anyone thought. we are stopping in large numbers these drugs coming into the country for many, many years and we are stopping a lot of illegal immigration and our numbers have

been very good and there does seem to be a surgeon now because people are coming up on caravans and they are starting to form because i think there will be a lot in it for them if they are able to get through but we are able to stop it and the wall has made a tremendous difference. i think some of you are coming with me but the wall has made a tremendous difference on the southern border. as far as this is concerned we want no violence, never violence, we want absolutely no violence. on the impeachment it's really a continuation of the greatest witchhunt in the history of politics. it is ridiculous. it's absolutely ridiculous. this impeachment is causing tremendous anger and you are doing it and it's really a terrible thing that they are doing. for nancy pelosi and chuck schumer to continue on this path i think it is causing tremendous danger to our country and

causing tremendous anger. i want no violence, thank you very much. thank you very much. [cheering and applause] >> we are waiting here for the start of a discussion on the coronavirus pandemic with american medical association president susan bailey. this is live coverage on c-span2.

>> james joins us now for discussion on what are 50 senate divided means for the incoming biden administration but first i know you spent years of your earlier career working on capitol hill and lived on capitol hill and just your thoughts first on the events of last wednesday. >> guest: well, i think like many millions of other americans i was shocked and still unpacking it and to see such a sacred space. >> the u.s. house is meeting today -- >> these have also made them more susceptible to the dangers of covid-19 and the road ahead